Vent, overflow, and ladder unit for storage tanks



Dec. 2, 194. R. A. JACKSON $457,555

VENT, OVERFLOW, AND LADDER UNIT, FOR STORAGE TANKS Filed June 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 28, 1948. R. A. JACKSON 2,457,155

VENT, OVERFLOW, AND LADDER UNIT, FOR STORAGE TANKS Patented Dec. 28, 1948 VENT, OVERFLOW, AND LADDER. UNIT FOR STORAGE TANKS Robert A. Jackson, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, a corporation of Illinois Application June 5, 1946, Serial No. 674,615

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a storage tank, and relates particularly to a vent, overflow, and ladder unit for a storage tank.

In erecting large storage tanks, particularly those with elevated storage portions, it has been found desirable to include a revolving ladder as supplemental equipment. This ladder is permanently fixed to the tank, and is adapted to be revolved around the tank for the use of inspectors, painters, and other workmen. The ladder is ordinarily mounted on rollers contacting the surface of the storage portion of the tank.

Storage tanks for the storage of liquids are also ordinarily provided with vents for the escape of gas and of liquid if the tank is filled too full, or if the contents of the tank expand, I have invented a unit comprising a vent, overflow, and ladder, with the unit being capable of movement around at least a portion of the tank surface. As these objects are ordinarily mounted on the outside of the tank, it has been found desirable to reduce their bulk as much as possible, so as to give a more pleasing appearance. With the structure of the present invention the above elements are combined and can be made more cheaply and more compact. The invention comprises broadly a vent, overflow, and ladder unit comprising an overflow opening at the top of the storage portion of the tank, an overflow receptacle, a conduit attached to the receptacle and extending down the outside of the tank, a ladder associated with said conduit and rollers supporting the receptacle, conduit, and ladder against the side of the tank for movement as a unit around at least a portion of the tank surface.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of the storage portion of an elevated tank; Fig. 2 is a plan view of said tank; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a supporting column for the storage portion and an overflow pipe and ladder; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section takenalong line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

The elevated storage tank shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a storage portion l and spaced supporting columns At the top of the storage portion l0 there is located an upwardly extending pipe l2 having an outwardly curved outer end 13. Immediately beneath this outer end |3 there is located a circular trough l4. This circular trough is mounted on a plurality of rollers l rolling upon a flat annular plate l6 surrounding the base of pipe I 2.

The trough I4 is also provided with spaced horizontal rollers I! contacting the pipe l2 and serving to maintain the trough l4 substantially concentric to the pipe I2.

The upper end I3 of the pipe I2 is provided with a cover l8 spaced therefrom. This cover I8 is hingedly mounted on an arm I!) supported from the curved outer end l3 of the pipe I 2. The cover I8 is held in its spaced relationship by a plurality of upwardly extending brackets 20 spaced around the upper end |3 of the pipe l2. Thus the pipe l2 serves as an overflow outlet, and the combina tion of the pipe [2 and the cover serves as a vent.

The trough M has an overflow pipe 2| in communication therewith and extending down the outside of the storage portion ID. The overflow pipe 2| is supported on rollers 22 bearing against the outer surface of the storage portion Ill.

The bottom end of the overflow pipe 2| is removably attached to a fixed pipe 23 by means of a pipe union 24, or a similar device. The fixed pipe 23 is shown adjacent a supporting column although it may be in any other desired location.

Mounted on the overflow pipe 2| are spaced ladider rungs 25. These ladder rungs extend from the trough M .to the pipe union 24. A fixed ladder 26 is mounted on a supporting column II and extends from the ground to a point beneath the pipe union 24. When the two overflow pipes 2| and 23 are fastened together, as shown in the drawings, a continuous ladder will thus be provided from the ground to the trough I4. Although the fixed ladder 26 is shown mounted on a column I by means of brackets 21, it may have any desired position so long as it is beneath the lower end of the overflow pipe 2|.

When the two overflow pipes 2| and 23 are fastened together as shown any liquid within the tank will flow out the upwardly extending pipe l2 into the trough l4 and down the overflow pipes 2| and 23 when the liquid within the tank expands or when the tank is filled too full. When it is desired to inspect the entire tank or to paint thesurlace of the tank the two overflow pipes 2| and 23 may be uncoupled at the pipe union 24, and the movable pipe 2| moved around the surface of the storage portion I0 of the tank. The movable overflow pipe 2| turns on its rollers 22, and this turns the trough M on its rollers I5. Thus the pipe 2| and trough l4 may be turned to any desired position on the tanks surface, and painters or inspectors may use the ladder rungs 25. v v

Although only one movable overflow pipe 2| the embodiment set out in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of the description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim: Y I 1. In a storage tank structure including a storage portion, an overflow and ladder unit com-' prising an overflow opening, anoverflow receptacle, a conduit attached thereto, extending down the outside of the tank, a ladder associated with said conduit, and rollers supporting the receptacle, conduit and ladder against the side of the tank for movement as a unit around at least a portion of the tank surface.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein the ladder comprises ladder rungs mounted on the conduit.

3. The unit of claim 1 wherein the overflow opening comprises an upstanding pipe having a flared outer end and the receptacle comprises a trough arranged beneath the flared end, and

' there is provided a cover over the opening spaced.

from the outer end thereof.

4. The unit of claim 1 wherein the conduit comprises at least one pipe depending from the ceptacle with the ladder comprising spaced rungs attached to said pipe.

6. In a storage tank structure including a storage portion, an overflow and ladder unit comprising an upstanding overflow pipe having a flared outer end, a trough arranged beneath the flared end, at least one depending pipe communicating with the trough and extending down the outside oi the tank, rollers supporting the trough and depending pipe on the outer surface of the storage portion of the tank, and spaced ladder rungs mounted on the depending pipe.

7. The unit of claim 6 wherein the storage portion of the tank is substntially circular in horizontal cross-section and the upstanding pipe is located at substantially the peak of the vertical center of the storage portion.

8. The unit of claim 6 wherein the depending pipe hasits lower end removably attached to a fixed pipe.

9. The unit of claim 6 wherein the trough is provided with spaced substantially horizontal rollers contacting the upstanding overflow pipe.

'10, The unit of claim 6 wherein there is provided a, cover over the upper end of the upstanding pipe with the cover spaced from. said end.

11. In a storage tank structure including a storage portion of substantially circular cross-section, a vent, overflow, and ladder unit comprising an upstanding combined overflow pipe and vent having a flared outer end and located at substantially the peak of the vertical center of the storage portion, a circular trough positioned under the flared portion of said pipe, rollers supporting the trough on the storage portion for revolution around the upstanding pipe, substantially horizontal rollers between the trough and the upstanding pipe, at least one depending overflow pipe extending from the trough down along the outside of the storage portion, spaced rollers supporting the overflow pipe against the storage portion of the tank, said trough and overflow pipe being movablearound the tank with the upstanding pipe serving as a 'center of revolution, and spaced ladder rungs mounted on the depending pipe.

12. The unit of claim 11 where the bottom end of the depending pipe is removably fastened to a fixed pipe.

13. The unit of claim 11 wherein the upstanding pipe is provided with a cover over its upper end with the cover being spaced from said end.

14. The unit of claim 11 wherein the upstanding pipe is provided with a cover over its upper end with the cover being spaced from said end, andthe bottom end of the depending pipe is removably fastened to a fixed pipe.

15. In a storage tank structure including a storage portion, an overflow and ladder unit comprising an overflow opening, a conduit attached thereto and extending down the outside of the tank surface.

ROBERT A. JACKSON.

No references cited. 

